Date Constraints for Delivery Date

You have defined the following tolerances:

_premature = 2 days (tolerance for premature delivery without penalty costs )

_earliest = 3 days (tolerance for maximum earliness )

_delayed = 1 day (tolerance for delayed delivery without penalty costs )

_latest = 2 days (tolerance for maximum delay )

The requested delivery date is 10.01., 12:00 . The solid red curve specifies that you do not want to take into account the exact time of the requested delivery date. The dotted blue curve specifies that you want to take into account the exact time.

The following figures show how these tolerances affect the delivery date, depending on whether you define them as hard, soft, or soft and hard constraints.

Figure 1 : Soft constraints for premature and delayed delivery

This graphic is explained in the accompanying text.

In this case, a delayed delivery is allowed until 12.01. (solid red curve). No penalty costs are calculated. A delivery after 12.01. is allowed, but penalty costs will be incurred.

A premature delivery can occur at the earliest on 08.01. without penalty costs being incurred. If the delivery occurs before 08.01., penalty costs will be incurred.

If you have specified that the system is to take into account the exact time of the requested delivery date (dotted blue curve), penalty costs will be incurred for a delayed delivery after 11.01., 12:00 and for a premature delivery before 08.01., 12:00 .

Figure 2 : Hard constraints for premature and delayed delivery

This graphic is explained in the accompanying text.

In this case, a delayed delivery is not allowed after 13.01. (solid red curve). The delivery can occur at the earliest on 07.01.

If you have specified that the system is to take into account the exact time of the requested delivery date (dotted blue curve), a delivery is not allowed after 12.01., 12:00 and before 07.01., 12:00 .

Figure 3 : Soft and hard constraints for premature and delayed delivery

This graphic is explained in the accompanying text.

In this case, a delayed delivery is allowed after 10.01. (solid red curve). However, penalty costs will be incurred if the delivery occurs on 12.01. A delivery after 13.01. is not allowed.

A premature delivery is allowed from 07.01. However, penalty costs will be incurred if the delivery occurs on 07.01. A delivery before 07.01. is not allowed.

If you have specified that the system is to take into account the exact time of the requested delivery date (dotted blue curve), a delayed delivery is not allowed after 12.01., 12:00 . Penalty costs will be incurred for a delivery between 11.01., 12:00 and 12.01., 12:00 .

A premature delivery before 07.01., 12:00 is not allowed. Penalty costs will be incurred for a delivery between 07.01., 12:00 and 08.01., 12:00 .